A?new reality show designed to select a male and female cox
for China's team in the 2008 Olympics rowing event has drawn
massive public attention.
Online polls are now underway to whittle down the remaining
number of candidates from 300 to 80; these will then go on to
further competition and training.
Over 10 thousand hopefuls have entered the competition since its
launch in September. Any Chinese citizen aged between 18 and 60 was
eligible to apply to compete for the position in the 8 plus cox
rowing event.
This is the only sport in the Olympics in which such a
nationwide selection could be held because the cox position does
not require great physical strength or years of training.
However Gao Jingping, a former coach for the Chinese national
rowing team and one of the jury members for the competition, seems
a little reserved.
"I can't say we will definitely be able to select a talented
coxswain. I can only say we are now trying to select a talented
person and then try to cultivate him or her into a good cox."
The cox, or coxswain, sits in the stern of an eight person boat
facing the rowers and shouts instructions to help steer the boat
and motivate the rowers.
All 80 selected contestants will take part in the first season
of tryouts broadcast on China Central Television, with 10 men and
10 women being chosen in February 2007.
After three months of training and a second televised selection
round, two men and two women will train for the Olympics with the
national team.
Ultimately, one male and one female contestant will be chosen to
compete in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
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(CRI November 1, 2006)